Anglican
Diocese
with the
of CHRISTCHURCH
ABOUT
Warm greetings from all of us at Sister Eveleen Retreat House.
We are a Christian retreat house nestled among native trees and beach flora on Scarborough Hill, Sumner, Christchurch.
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It is our ministry to offer and hold a sacred space for you —
a place to reflect, rest, pray, or simply be.
Whether you are here for a retreat, a self-guided stay, or with a group,
... you are welcome.
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St Francis Chapel, located on-site, is always open for prayer and quiet reflection.
Our beautiful gardens offer another space to pause and enjoy God’s presence.
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Sister Eveleen Retreat House belongs to the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch —
yet everyone is welcome to visit and spend time in prayer and contemplation.
Our mission is to continue Sister Eveleen’s dream:
to offer her home as a place where people can replenish their spirit
and immerse themselves in God’s loving presence.
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Sister Eveleen Retreat House is a house of prayer and spiritual support.
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Here is what our guests say...
If you haven’t visited us yet,
this short clip will take you up the hill and give you a glimpse of our special place.
We are looking forward to welcoming and hosting you!
OUR ROOMS
SERH offers 11 beds in 8 rooms, each offering a range of accommodation choices and prices all with heating. All rooms at our inspiring retreat are warm and inviting with captivating views of sky and sea. Each room has a tranquil and cozy atmosphere, facilitating your refreshing spiritual retreat.
All rooms can also be booked
for day stays (NZ$30)
Please get in touch with us via email
Sister Eveleen Ministry and Services
Book Sister Eveleen Retreat House
for your next team retreat, parish group gathering, or meeting.
You may book the whole house for a day visit or with an overnight stay
(11 beds in 8 rooms).
Enjoy with your team the peace and beauty of Sister Eveleen.
Whole-house bookings are self-catered and self-guided and include the use of all facilities.
Please get in touch via email to enquire about a group or whole-house booking.
We also offer the option of organizing a contemplative morning or day retreat tailored to your group.
Please contact us to discuss the possibilities and conditions.
Day Retreats just for Yourself
You can also book a room for the day to enjoy a self-guided, self-catered retreat
in our peaceful surroundings.
Please get in touch via email to
arrange a day that suits you.
House Team
Sandi Hall
Resident Host
Our Resident Host is the soul of Sister Ev and offers hospitality to our individual guests who come here to stay and seek peace and refreshment.
Antje Duda
Director
Antje looks after the bookings, planning, the day retreats and the calm running of the annual programme of the house.
Our Prayer Rhythm - St. Francis Chapel
The chapel is a quiet, reflective space for prayer and small gatherings
and open for all guests.
During the week we have regular
Prayers Times:
Monday, 12 o'clock - Contemplative
Tuesday, 12 o'clock - Taize
Wednesday, Evening Prayer, 7pm
Thursday
Celtic Christian Service , 12 o'clock
These are open to the public.
Everyone is welcome to join in.
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Our beautifully hand made prayer stools in our Chapel are crafted from original Sister Eveleen Retreat House weather board or Rimu by Dugald Wilson from our Board.
They are availablefor $40 Koha - please get in touch
Vouchers & Gift Cards
Looking for a meaningful gift?
Surprise someone with a stay at Sister Ev. You could give a voucher for a day retreat, overnight stay, a weekend or longer retreat .
Gift someone with the the space to rest, reflect, and be refreshed.
Just get in touch with us
.
Housekeeping
Every room has linen and towels.
Before and after use, the retreat room
will be cleaned by our staff.
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction for individual guests and for groups can be arranged
upon request.
You will be given wisdom and guidance by our qualified spiritual directors, facilitating
your spiritual retreat.
Just get in touch with us
when you book your stay.
Our Garden
The garden is beautifully situated on Scarborough Hill, overlooking the sea.
It offers many peaceful spots for quiet meditation and prayer.
Please note: while bookings are in place, the garden is reserved as a private space for our guests.
Kitchen
Our kitchen is available for your use at any time during your stay.
This includes oven, stove, microwave, fridge, freezer and cutlery, crockery and cooking equipment. We also have a verietry of teas and coffees.
Individual guests have now the option of booking a breakfast.
(All other meals are self-catered.)
Group bookings are self-catered.
Retreats are usually fully-catered, unless otherwise stated.
GALLERY
THINGS TO DO
Nature walks
There are many coastal walks easily accessible from the house. Scarborough to Taylor’s Mistake, Flowers Track, and the Esplanade are some.
Sumner Beach
Below the house lies Sumner Beach. The beach is a great place to walk, run, swim or relax on a nice day.
(The Scarborough Morning Dippers meet every Friday morning, at 7am outside Scarborough Fare cafe.)
Water Sports
Sumner beach is a great place to try out a range of different water sports. There is often good swell for surfing and SUP boarding as well kayaking and even sailing.
Sunday Market
The Sumner Market is held every Sunday from 10am - 2pm, on the corner of Marriner Street and the Esplanade. It is a great place to explore some cool craft stalls, food trucks and meet some locals!
Local Cafes
In Sumner Village there are plenty of great cafes to enjoy good food and coffee. Some of these include: Dot Com, Utopia Ice and Joe's Garage.
Christchurch City
Just a 20 minute drive, (25min by bus) away is Christchurch city.
The city is a great place to learn more about the history of New Zealand, shop, see the sights and explore in a more urban environment.
GUEST REVIEW
AVAILABILITY CALENDAR
ACCESS DISCLOSURE
SERH is a very secluded retreat, which unfortunately means that there is limited vehicular access.
Cars should be parked beside the Scarborough pool (Marked on map below), as there is no parking or easy drop off access at SERH. From there, getting to SERH involves a ten minute uphill walk from the Scarborough pool, and then a short walk up a steep uneven zigzag path that is not wheelchair friendly.
We are well accessible by public transport, foot or bike.You will receive detailed instructions before your arrival.